Connecticut western news., 1887-10-26
IOBSTERS. Some Facts Concerning the Warriors of the Deep.
TheiE..Yoracity Leads to Their
 Easy Capture.

DullnS lnc eaIly pcIlou ol lIS Sio"'h> says tho Baltimore Sun, the lobster casts the whole of his shell frequently-in the second year every two months-but as it's size increases new dress is less often required, till at last, when arrived at the >Mlpcss of physical dignity, it's armor grows as it were rusty, and ~becomos coated ovefwirh parasitic shells.
 / pr. Beard tells us that 'sthe lobster (onfy increases in size during the short period of molting, but this increase is so great that it is almost as difficult to be- licve tho cast off clothes ever fitted the large fleshy mass lying languidly beside them, as that tho gigantic genie ever came out of tho jar the lid of which had been in an evil hour removed by the Arabian fisherman.
 When the pea is sufficiently ripe the fish has the power to place her eggs un- der the protection of her over-arching shell, where they advance gradually to maturity, one lobster producing from 90, 900 to 25,ooO eggs each season. The spawn is thus carried by the mother till ! nearly fit to commence independent life, and when cast off it soon gives birth to the young lobster, which grows rapidly, but passes through many changes before it assumes the form and color with which ordinary observers are more familiar.
 Enormous as IS the increase from q single female lobster, their numbers are considerably diminished by predatory fish, which devour them with great avidity and relish, but we arc told that the mother protects her progeny to the utmost, and by no means ceases her care with the deposit of her spawn, but con- tlnues it in very pleasing and interest ing manner longer than in most animals of far higher grade of organization. Many fishermen assert that they have frequently seen during the season the old lobsters with their young around them. ssSome of these infants have been noticed at six inches long, the old lobster with her head peering out from under rock, the young ones playing around her. She appeared to rattle her claws on the approach of tho fishermen, when herself and young family took 445efNee ssader-4 -4hAronks::et the rattling was mo doubt to give the alarm. This is told by old and experienced men, with out the slightest concert or question of ! collision.
 ''The Holsters home, !" says Dr. Peard, ''is in the purest water, beneath which he walks through brown and tangled forests of palmy weeds, warrior in full panoply, ever ready to do battle with all comers"
 It is here in rocky ground and in the fastnesses such localities afford to a creature so frequently dcfenseless he feeds chiefly on the aquatic vegetation which surrounds him, chopping up his salad with the large claw, little con- fcious how his example may be followed by man at feast at which he may be the principal invited guest. .
 Lobsters and crabs vary in their tastes. Lobstcrs will be attracted by almost any description of offal, the more putres- cent the better; the crab will refuse to enter if the bait is not sweet and fresh.
 Dr. Blakey says the lobster is consid- cred an unclean eater, and is often called the scavenger of the seas. He is fierce marauder, bouncing on dc:d o, living substan ces of all kinds. He ap. pears to have powerful sense of smell although no distinct organs for this of flee have yet been detected. His car nivorous voracity leads to the animals destruction. Baited traps made o strong twigs, like the common wire mousetraps, are lowered into the water and marked with buoy, and these :bc- come the most cffectual means of cap. turing this epicurean crustacean.